The Real Tale of Retail and Wholesale… all the dirty secrets
The Real Tale of Retail and Wholesale peels back the polished storefronts to spill the tea. With 40 years in the wholesale side (Matthew) and 20 years in the retail side (Christina) we’ve seen it all and now we’re sharing it! From shady deals and markup secrets to buyer drama. We dish it out with honesty and humor. Welcome to the side of fashion business no one talks about...
Episodes
61 episodes
Much to do about nothing
In this episode we talked about everything and nothing in between. Costco closing on holiday- duh!Gas Prices in California- up to $6Distressed Denim- in or outChristina's HSN adventures.
Western Wear goes mainstream
In this episode we talk to Bill Carnes, the Director of Apparel for Hatco. One of the largest hat companies in the country. He breaks down trends vs mainstream vs myths. What is a real cowboy?
Fast Fashion and new laws
In this episode we touch on how the European Union is taking steps to adopt sustainable inventory practices.
Edward Jones III- a retrospective from the 70's - 80's
We interviewed Edward (Eddie) Jones on his remarkable career starting as a stock floor seller at Neiman Marcus all the way up to his career with Perry Ellis.
The Jetty Brand
On this episode we interviewed Jeremy DeFilippis, co founder of Jetty. He walks us though his early days with a simple idea on a t-shirt to today having 2 locations and sold in over 700 stores.Enjoy this fun ride!
Returns Done for You?! Plus GLP-1 Talk & Fashion Shifts
In this episode, we’re diving into the latest shifts in retail, wellness, and what consumers actually want right now. Uber is stepping into convenience in a big way—announcing they’ll handle your returns for you. Game changer?Meanwhile, ...
Finance Bros in Loro Piana?! Plus Walmart, Buc-ee’s & AI Drama
In this episode, we’re covering everything from subtle luxury signals to major retail shakeups. Why are finance guys suddenly wearing Loro Piana, and what does that say about where luxury is headed?We also get into the backlash around Du...
If It’s at Costco… Is the Brand Over? Let’s Talk Luxury Myths
In this episode, we’re breaking down the buzz around the Parks x Target collaboration and what it really says about brand partnerships right now. We also dive into how Tapestry brands—and luxury as a whole—are actually performing behind the hea...
The Mall Comeback, Comp Shopping Explained & How to Save More
Are malls making a comeback? Gen Z might think so 👀In this episode we break down:• Why the instant gratification generation actually wants to shop in person again• What comp shopping really means (and why retailers ...
Retail Shakeups: Target Drops Ulta, Lululemon Pressure & Vinyl Is Back
This episode has retail insight AND an unplanned moment we couldn’t edit out 🤭We talked:• Target’s beauty expansion and what happens as Ulta exits stores• Is Lululemon feeling pressure right now? shifting demand + m...
Private Label Truths & Why Grocery Is Driving Retail Growth
New episode and we covered A LOT 👀• Private label pros & cons (where retailers really make margin)• Matthew admits he couldn’t exactly own up to some pricing math mistakes when we worked together 😅• Grocery wars… who’s...
The Confetti Lie, the Spaghetti Incident & Getting Fired From Retail
In this episode Matthew starts things off by admitting he may have lied about the Super Bowl confetti being recycled… so we had to address that immediately. 😂Then we got into some classic retail stories from our early days:...
Trust Your Hand: Fabric Secrets from a the Fabric Professor
We had a special guest — Greg (aka The Professor) — breaking down the truth about fabric, yarns, blends & stretch👀We talked:• Poly vs cotton and why blends matter• Recycled poly that used to take 97 years
Retail Wholesale 101
If you’ve ever wondered how a product actually gets into a store, this episode is for you.Matthew and I are pulling back the curtain on the retail buying process and sharing real insider tips from both sides of the table.
Shrink Flation- is it real?
Another episode of The Real Tale of Retail & Wholesale and Matthew came prepared… with tariffs (again 😅).This week we covered:• Tariffs and why they keep creeping into retail conversations• The “monkey getting integr...
Food Chains Everywhere, Borrowed Brand Colors & Credit Card Panic
This episode spiraled quickly 😂We started with Costco vs Sam’s Club and why the same club sells totally different stuff depending on where you shop (rude).Then we fell into food wars—how many chains exist and w...
She Sold Frozen Pizza for $20M… Then We Talked Hot Dogs
This episode was a ride 😂We talked about Katie Lee—from being homeless and making frozen pizzas… to selling the business to Target for $20 MILLION 🤯.Then we dove into:💍 the rise of divorce rings (yes...
Everyone’s Getting Laid Off… So We Talked Travel and French Toast
This episode went everywhere 😂Matthew’s Deal of the Day, $25 shipping to send a package to his grandkids (ouch), corporate layoffs everywhere, Amazon shutting down food + testing a massive big-box store, travel...
Store Closings, Mel Robbins & Retail Notes on a Napkin
This episode is a little unhinged (in the best way).We break down Chapter 11 vs. Chapter 7—what they actually mean and why people confuse them all the time. We also talk about the Mel Robbins Podcast… which Mat...
From Sears to Snoop: Reinvent or Disappear
This week, we’re digging into why store closings are back — even local pharmacies aren’t safe — and why bankruptcies are hitting a 15-year high. We talk Starbucks shrinking its footprint, the western industry as a whole (including why tariffs o...
Bankruptcies, Tariffs & the Cost of Doing Business
This week, we’re digging into why store closings are back — even local pharmacies aren’t safe — and why bankruptcies are hitting a 15-year high. We talk Starbucks shrinking its footprint, the western industry as a whole (including why tariffs o...
Deal-of-the-Day Socks & Other Strong Opinions
This episode is a little money, a little shopping, and a lot of opinions. We break down Kelly Lee’s financial advice for kids and her books — Christina is officially buying — while Matthew is firmly against the “deal of the day” socks for every...
Everyone’s in the Bathroom & Retail Is Feeling It
On the next episode, things take a turn… straight to poop. And then somehow more poop. We talk about the fact that you can apparently have up to 15 pounds in your gut (you’re welcome), which leads to a completely unhinged c...